Innovative solutions are required to keep up with agricultural systems in a technology driven world. These agile systems can help meet the demands of food, clean air and water, improved health, sustainability and more. Of course these efforts will also allows for resilience of agricultural systems, improved human efficiency, and reduced time spent. Texas A&M AgriLife is committed to improving efficiency of current systems and developing new agricultural information systems.
- A Weslaco researcher developed and evaluated internet-based applications and mobile phone and tablet applications to improve crop efficiency, productivity, and profitability per unit of irrigation of water applied.
- Scientists at Vernon are developing a behavioral-based monitoring system using RFID technology for preclinical detection and mitigation of Bovine respiratory disease which costs the cattle industry $1 billion annually in morbidity and mortality.
- Low cost, rapid, near-infrared spectroscopy techniques developed at the San Angelo center will improve the efficiency of wool packing to reduce costs for buyers and growers.
Model development for land and crop management practices
A team of researchers at the Blackland Center developed a set of simulation models and databases that serve as the foundation for agricultural and economic decision making around the world. The models evaluate the impacts of changes in technologies and climate on the productivity and sustainability of agriculture and natural resources. The core models assess the impacts of land and crop management practices on agriculture production and the environments on farms and watersheds of all sizes.
Feedlot emissions and air quality
Charles M. Rush and Ada Szczepaniec work on a project that successfully demonstrated the use of automated digital imaging when followed by image processing and interpretation to visually estimate ground-level feedlot dust concentrations.
Crop-Weather Program for South Texas
The Crop-Weather Program (CWP) for South Texas is housed at the Corpus Christi Center. CWP is a web-based tool that tracks data from 32 weather stations stretching Fort Bend County to the Rio Grande Valley.
Environmental quality & resilience
Researchers at the Amarillo Center, including Ken Casey and Brent Auverman, are using innovative and emerging technologies – including including remote sensing platforms, open path optical sensors and low-cost community-based monitoring approaches – to monitor air quality and atmospheric emissions. By using data collection tools, the researchers can monitor carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ammonia, and fine particulars to better inform regulatory agencies and policy makers.
- Ken Casey, air quality engineering
- Brent Auverman, agricultural engineering
- Charles M. Rush, plant pathology
- Ada Szczepaniec, entomology